Blog

Why Chinese Herbs

During your time at MCA your acupuncturist might have brought up adding Chinese Herbs to your treatments. Why? The simplest answer is, sometimes acupuncture isn’t the only or best way to address various health concerns.

Chinese herbs are the medicine that makes Traditional Chinese Medicine (or TCM as it is commonly referred to) a complete system of healthcare. It is the yin to the yang of acupuncture. There are thousands of traditional formulas of herbs, all of them based on a system of understanding that combines taste (sour, bitter, sweet, pungent, & bland) and temperature (cold, warm, hot) of a plant material (leaves, twigs, bark, roots) to create a desired effect on the chemistry of the body. An easy analogy for Chinese herbs is food. We eat certain foods to have certain effects inside the body. For example, lemons are bitter and sour and create the pucker that helps to create saliva, while bone broths would be considered sweet and bland and help to repair tissue after illness. Chinese herbs are used to help the body to repair itself over time instead of masking the symptoms like an over the counter medication would.

Chinese herbs can be used to address a variety of symptoms and conditions. They are not recommended for everyone, especially those on certain medications like blood thinners, but in the right circumstance herbs can help improve conditions faster than acupuncture alone. At MCA we like to use acupuncture first and then add herbs as needed (or desired) on a patient by patient basis. All of our acupuncturists are board certified in Chinese Herbology, and during their training spent many hours studying Chinese herbs and formulas. All of the Chinese herbs at MCA are tested for safety and efficacy, and come as a pill similar to a supplement. We carry a wide array of formulas that address everything from constipation and menstrual issues to the common cold and sinus congestion. Chinese herbs range in price, and can cost anywhere from $10-15 for a two week supply.

So the next time you see your acupuncturist, ask how Chinese herbs could benefit you!

It is a common misconception that acupuncture can only be utilized for adults. Just as children are mini adults, acupuncture and acupressure are safe, drug free and effective way to positively influence your health. For centuries acupuncture has been helping children boost their immune system, help them sleep, and improve digestion, just to name a few.

For many children (and also many adults) the thought of “needles” can be enough to elicit panic and fear. The best way to combat fear is knowledge. Most “needles” that people are familiar with are hollow bore needles used to give shots, while acupuncture needles are solid needles and thinner than a piece of hair. It is estimated that you can fit 15-20 acupuncture needles inside of a hollow bore needle.

Originally Acupuncture was developed as a general medicine as a way to put the body back into balance through the use of small fine pins, or needles as they are more commonly called. Initially the mechanism behind the how and why acupuncture worked was unknown. Generations of Chinese Medicine doctors would treat patients based on knowledge passed through families of doctors. Those doctors would record their findings and new treatments would evolve over time.

Today we have modern medicine and many scientific studies to tell us exactly how acupuncture works. There are many ways in which a small acupuncture needle can positively affect the body, but mainly acupuncture works to affect the nervous system and the brain. Our central computers, aka our brains, are wired through the nervous system, and if that wiring somehow misfires, bodily functions down the line can feel the effects. Recent research has shown that where the nervous system is found most superficially along the inner wrist correlates almost exactly with the location of acupuncture points. Coincidence? Most likely not.

At Milwaukee Community Acupuncture we welcome kid patients, as long as they are the right candidate and are able to speak in a quiet voice and rest for 10-20 minutes. It is recommended that before coming in for treatment you have an honest conversation with your child about what to expect. For most kids, treatments will include around 1-10 needles placed in the arms below the elbows, and legs below the knee. They will be asked to sit quietly with the needles in for around 20 minutes. The needles feel like a tiny pinch upon initial insertion, seconds later that sensation dies completely. For kids who don’t want to try needles we can use acupressure tools to stimulate the acupuncture points and channels, these tools are called sho ni shin.

Parents are encouraged to sit with their child for their first visit. At subsequent visits parents are welcome to come for an appointment with their child; we ask that the child be able to sit quietly in the treatment room until your acupuncture session is over, typically 40-45 minutes. Many families come and get acupuncture together, it is a great way to bond and do something good for yourself at the same time.

Acupuncture is a painless and safe way to improve the health of your entire family. We hope to see you and your kiddos in the clinic soon!

Milwaukee Community Acupuncture

Based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin's Bay View neighborhood, Milwaukee Community Acupuncture provides quality, convenient and low-cost healthcare to members of our community.

Special Offers & Updates!

December Special

All through the month of December MCA is offering $10 treatment every Monday to service industry workers. We hope you take time to take care of yourself during this busy time of caring for others.

Holiday Hours

MCA will be closed Monday December 24, Tuesday December 25, and Tuesday January 1. All other hours that week will remain the same. Happy Holidays!

December Construction

During the month of December, Cafe Centraal will be installing some duct work that will run through MCA's large treatment room. The work will be happening overnight so MCA hours will remain the same. You will notice a large plastic enclosure in the treatment room while the work is happening. Thank you for bearing with us during the construction.

Buy 10 Treatments, Get the 11th Free

Did you know we have 10 treatment punch cards available at our front desk? You pay whatever you can using our sliding scale for those 10 treatments and then get your 11th treatment free. Many patients have found using punch cards easier than paying each time they come in. We even keep them at our front desk so you don't have to keep track of them!

Amazon Smile

MCA is now part of Amazon Smile. When making purchases on Amazon, choose us to make part of that purchase a donation to MCA!